Brantford presents accessibility awards at city council meeting

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Harmony United Church is the recipient of a City of Brantford accessibility award.

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The church, at 268 Marlborough St., is a community hub that has gone above and beyond to make its facility more accessible, said Colleen Goupil, chair of the Brantford Accessibility Advisory Committee.

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“Recognizing that physical barriers once limited participation, the church added an accessible washroom and build a ramp to connect the sanctuary to the social hall,” Goupil said. “These thoughtful upgrades have enabled people with mobility challenges to fully participate in everything from worship services to cultural festivals.

“Harmony United Church has shown what it means to build not just a facility but a community that welcomes everyone.”

Goupil presented the award to church representatives Betty Vipond and Gail Simpson. It was one of several accessibility awards presented at Tuesday’s meeting of city council.

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Presented during National AccessAbility Week (May 25 to 31), the awards recognize a person, group or organization making a significant contribution to accommodate those with disabilities.

“We are excited to recognize the 2025 Accessibility Awards Winners, along with well-deserved acknowledgements for a number of city staff,” Jenny Sawicki, the city’s accessibility coordinator, said in a statement. “Each of the honourees has demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities through work and infrastructure upgrades that enable greater independence and helps improve overall quality of life.”

Awards were also presented to Greg Wilson, Andrew Nielsen, Spencer Moore, Christian Bean and the city’s traffic department.

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Wilson, the owner of William Street Eyecare, was nominated in the built environment category and recognized for making his optometry practice more accessible. Located in a historic 1911 residence, the clinic has undergone many upgrades over the years.

In 2024, Wilson introduced an accessible examination lane for patients who need to remain in their wheelchairs. As well, the building’s elevator was upgraded to provide better lighting and smoother operation.

Nielsen, who lives with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, was nominated in the information and technology category. He is an advocate for those with disabilities and a champion for accessibility. He has raised more than $165,000 for Easter Seals Ontario and worked with professional sports teams to address accessibility barriers in their facilities.

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Moore, a fitness instructor at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, was nominated for breaking down barriers to ensure all individuals can fully participate in fitness, recreation and community activities.

Bean, the city’s manager of construction, was nominated for his exceptional dedication to improving accessibility. He played an important role in ensuring city documents are Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliant. As well, Bean ensures city infrastructure projects meet accessibility requirements.

The city’s traffic department has implemented numerous measures to improve pedestrian access and mobility for individuals with disabilities. The measures include 75 pedestrian crossovers, 100 accessible pedestrian signal buttons and 119 pedestrian countdown timers.

The awards presentation included a video of Mayor Kevin Davis and councillors Rose Sicoli, Mandy Samwell and Linda Hunt participating in simulations that gave them a sense of the experiences of those with a disability.

The video A Day in the Life – Understanding Accessibility in our city – can be seen on the city’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/cityofbrantford.

Vball@postmedia.com

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